HAND WASHING REMINDER DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20100073162A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clark Johnson Modern Engineering, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clark Johnson Modern Engineering, LLC
• Inventors: Clark, Robert Louis JR., Johnson, Michael David
• Application Number:
  US12/554,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20100073162A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A device and method for reminding people to maintain hand hygiene. Further a device and method for reminding people to perform hand washing and obtaining hand hygiene compliance data in a patient care environment, which may be a hospital, a nursing home, or a food service facility, which may be a restaurant or cafeteria. A device and method for using accelerometry and/or additional sensor cues, which may include the sound of running water and/or alcohol odor, for sensing when a person has washed their hands, and for using accelerometry information and other cues to determine when a person has touched something, thereby contaminating his/her hands.

Claims

1. A method for ensuring hand hygiene compliance, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing whether a person has washed their hands;

determining a hand wash state of said person'"'"'s hands;

indicating said hand wash state of said person'"'"'s hands; and

alerting at least one individual of said hand wash state of said person'"'"'s hands.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sensing further comprises one or more of the steps of the following:

sensing motion;

sensing water; and

sensing odor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said hand wash state is recorded on a data collection system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises at least two of the steps of the following:

sensing motion;

sensing water; and

sensing odor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises the steps of the sensing motion, sensing water, and sensing odor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said hand wash state is associated with a nosocomial infection.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of sensing motion is accomplished by one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or an ultrasonic Doppler sensor.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of sensing water is accomplished by one or more of a running water sensor, a flushing water sensor, or a moisture sensor.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of sensing odor is accomplished by an odor detector.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein said hand wash state is transmitted to said data collection system via at least one of a wired or a wireless data.

11. An apparatus for ensuring hand hygiene compliance, said apparatus comprising:

a sensing device, said sensing device for determining a hand wash state;

an indicating device, said indicating device indicating said hand wash state of said person; and

an alerting device, said alerting device alerting at least one individual of said state of hand wash said of said person'"'"'s hands.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said sensing device is one or more of the following:

motion sensor;

water sensor; and

odor sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a data collection system, said data collection system recording said hand wash state.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said motion sensor is one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or an ultrasonic Doppler sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said water sensor is one or more of a running water sensor, a flushing water sensor, or a moisture sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said odor sensor is one or more of an alcohol odor sensor or a contaminant odor sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said apparatus comprises at least two of the following:

motion sensor;

water sensor; and

odor sensor.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said apparatus comprises a motion sensor, a water sensor, and an odor sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising at least one of a wired or wireless device to transmit said hand wash state to said data collection system.